The Agona Swedru Community Tribunal has remanded a pastor in prison custody for defiling a 14-year-old school girl of Gomoa Oguaakrom near Agona Swedru.

Pastor Elija Kweku Mensah of the Bethel Church at New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region, who pleaded not guilty will reappear on May 28.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Harold Coffie told the court, presided over by Mr Abdul F. Yakubu that on April 29, the accused came to Agona Swedru from Breman Asikuma to buy soap for his shop.

He said Pastor Mensah decided to visit a lady pastor at Winneba but the vehicle he was travelling on had flat tyre at Gomoa Oguaakrom.

As the passengers waited for the tyre to be mended, it threatened to rain and so rather than continue the journey the accused decided to join worshippers at a nearby Faith Tabernacle church.

He changed into a pastor's robe and introduced himself as a visiting pastor from New Edubiase.

Mensah was warmly welcomed by the resident pastor who invited him to give the sermon.

Inspector Coffie said after the service Mensah accepted a request by the congregation and the host pastors to spend a few days with them.

On May 2, the accused invited four members of the church including the victim for an all-night prayer session during which he sexually assaulted the girl.

The prosecution said the victim informed the elders of the church who caused the arrest of the accused and handed him over to Agona Swedru Police.